<< Toronto Forum for Global Cities - November 10, 2009 Conference Highlights Include Robert Reich and Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick >> TORONTO (CNW) - Senior White House officials, OECD leaders and high profile business executives will be among the over 40 panellists participating in the Toronto Forum for Global Cities, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building (255 Front Street West) on November 9 and 10, 2009. The Forum will tackle a series of questions about the role of cities in the global economy, including issues pertaining to public transportation, green energy and more.

<< Forum highlights will include: Tuesday, November 10 SMARTER CITIES FORUM presented by IBM (8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) 8:30am - OPENING SESSION Speaker highlights: Dan Fortin, President, IBM Canada Ltd.; Courtney Pratt, CEO, Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA); Warren Jestin, Senior VP & Chief Economist, Scotia Bank How can cities leverage their knowledge-based economies to reach full potential as engines of growth? How can public investments be directed to reflect the economic and demographic realities of our urbanized nations? How can metropolitan networks distinguish themselves in an era of intense global competition? 10:30am: BREAKOUT SESSIONS (simultaneously) ROUNDTABLE 1 Smarter Economic Development Speaker highlights: Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Government of Ontario; Shawn Graham, Premier, Province of New- Brunswick; Chris Gibbon, Vice President, Global Social Services & Social Security, IBM Global Today's governments have a unique opportunity to transform their operations and services, making them truly citizen-centric. How can governments seize this opportunity? Will the solutions be sustainable? ROUNDTABLE 2 Smarter Public Safety and Emergency Services Speaker highlights: Paul McCullough, Business Unit Executive, Public Safety and Defense, IBM Canada; Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario A smarter city uses advanced technologies and community-based approaches to anticipate and prevent - not just respond to - crimes and emergencies.

What are these technologies? How can we direct funding to the necessary infrastructure to support them? ROUNDTABLE 3 Smarter Energy and Utilities Speaker highlights: Michael Valocchi, Global Industry Leader, Energy and Utilities, IBM Global; Anthony Haines, President and CEO, Toronto Hydro Corporation Every day, energy is wasted due to inefficient electrical distribution systems. How can intelligent systems help utilities and citizens make smarter, more responsible choices about how to buy, sell and use electricity? 12:00pm: LUNCHEON Competing in an Innovation-Intensive Economy Speaker highlights: Robert Reich, member of President Obama's Economic Advisory Board and former U.S Secretary of Labor; Shawn Graham, Premier, Province of New Brunswick NOTE: Robert Reich will participate in a 15-minute media question-and- answer session following the Luncheon.

Economic stability will largely depend on how the emergency support is withdrawn. Which "exit strategies" are less likely to hurt the private sector's innovative capacity? How can the West remain competitive next to the innovative, rapidly-growing and fast- learning countries of Asia? 3:00pm: SESSION 3 - What is the Future for the Banking Sector? Speaker highlights: Gautier Dirckx, President and CEO, BNP Paribas Canada; Compton Bourne, President, Caribbean Development Bank What have we learned from the economic crisis? Is the recent performance of the investment banks a sign of recovery or a symptom of another bubble? What are the possible consequences of the new regulatory requirements for the banking sector? >> For a complete listing of Forum speakers and a detailed agenda, visit www.forumforglobalcities.com.

Media interested in attending Forum sessions must present official credentials at the Forum's Media Desk.

-0- 11/09/2009 /For further information: Media accreditation and information: Kristin Gable, Office: (416) 306-6641, Cell: (514) 209-0984, E-Mail/BlackBerry: kristin.gable(at)cossette.com/ CO: Toronto Forum for Global Cities ST: Ontario IN: SU: -30- CNW 13:23e 09-NOV-09